Abstract:
Human Immunodeficiency virus remains a major global health problem and is the
leading cause of death from an infectious disease worldwide. The expansion of antiretroviral
therapy has yielded remarkable achievements in the era of the disease. There are now many
antiretroviral drugs available and so there are a number of possible drug combinations.
Knowledge of antiretroviral toxicities is very crucial in choosing among these combinations.
Objective: The study aims to assess adverse drug reactions, its consequences and predisposing
factors among people on Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy at Jimma University Specialized
Hospital, Southwest Ethiopia.
Methods: A two year retrospective cohort study was employed at Jimma University Specialized
Hospital, South west Ethiopia. Data was collected through medical record reviews of peoples
using a medical card. Data was analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences, version
16.0. Binary and multivariable logistic regressions were used to determine the association
between different variables and the occurrence of adverse drug reactions. Comparison of factors
contributing for adverse drug reactions was shown using odds ratio. Statistical significance was
considered at p-value <0.05. Adverse drug reactions management and consequences of the
reactions were described.
Results: Among 390 peoples, 22.56% developed at least one adverse drug reactions, Peripheral
neuropathy and skin rash being frequent in the cohort. Females were 2.3 times more likely to
develop adverse drug reactions than males. The likelihood of reporting adverse drug reactions
was more than three in educated peoples than uneducated ones. Pregnant women were 2.5 times
more likely to develop adverse drug reactions than non pregnant women in the study. The
adverse drug reactions were also high in divorced individuals. The use of cotrimoxazole and
fluconazole prophylaxis had preventive effect against adverse drug reactions in the study. 40%of
all reactions were treated and 52.27% of peoples with adverse drug reactions faced at least one
type of negative consequences. Overall, the probability of being risk free decreased over time.
Conclusion: The prevalence of adverse drug reactions in peoples on highly active antiretroviral
therapy at Jimma University Specialized Hospital was high. Female sex, high educational level
and being pregnant significantly increased the risk, which alarms the need of pharmaceutical
care. Only less than half of the reactions were treated and more than half of peoples who
developed adverse drug reactions had experienced at least one type of negative consequences.
